Bottle cap

ABSTRACT

A bottle cap, having a top portion and a skirt portion which surrounds the top portion and extends downwardly from a circumference of the top portion; an inner wall of the skirt portion is provided with screw threads; a lower periphery of the skirt portion has openings. The screw threads are positioned near to the lower periphery of the skirt portion, and the openings partially interrupt the screw threads.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical field of using bottles for packaging, and more specifically relates to a bottle cap.

Articles in a bottle can be kept sealed by using a bottle cap. A bottle cap can also have anti-theft configurations and other configurations for general safety and security purposes. Therefore, bottle cap is a key component in the use of bottles for packaging.

With a view to conserving energy, reducing emissions, lowering costs and promoting environmental friendliness, many clients require production of a lighter bottle cap. Nowadays, a lighter bottle cap is mainly achieved by using a thinner side wall. However, an obvious disadvantage of using a thinner side wall is that the general strength of the bottle cap is weakened. Weakened strength means poorer sealing capability when the bottle cap is sealed with the bottle via screw threads.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid disadvantage now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a bottle cap that uses lesser materials to achieve the same thickness as the bottle cap found in the prior arts, without sacrificing the general strength of the bottle cap.

The technical solution of the present invention is detailed as follows:

A bottle cap, comprising a top portion and a skirt portion; the skirt portion surrounds the top portion and extends downwardly from a circumference of the top portion; an inner wall of the skirt portion is partially provided with screw threads; wherein a lower periphery of the skirt portion comprises openings.

The bottle cap has a circular structure.

The openings are in rectangular shapes, semi-circular shapes, semi-elliptical shapes or triangular shapes.

There are two said openings symmetrically arranged with respect to each other.

There are three or more said openings evenly spaced with respect to one another along a circumferential direction of the skirt portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the screw threads are positioned near to the top portion or at a middle section of the skirt portion.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the screw threads are positioned near to the lower periphery of the skirt portion; the openings partially interrupt the screw threads. Structural configurations according to this embodiment is advantageous to the bottle cap of a bottle which is more difficult to open, it is because the bottle cap according to this embodiment can reduce friction at the screw threads of the bottle cap by partially interrupting the screw threads. Accordingly, lesser force is required to rotate and open the bottle cap, thereby allowing the bottle cap to be opened more easily.

As shown above, the present invention uses lesser materials by providing openings along the lower periphery of the bottle cap. A side wall of the bottle cap has the same thickness as the bottle cap in the prior art, therefore the general strength of the bottle cap will not be weakened. Therefore, the present invention has the beneficial effect of using lesser materials to achieve the same thickness as the bottle cap found in the prior arts, without sacrificing the general strength of the bottle cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiment 1

As shown in FIG. 1, a bottle cap according to the present embodiment has a circular structure, comprising a top portion 100 and a skirt portion 200. The skirt portion 200 surrounds the top portion 100 and extends downwardly from a circumference of the top portion 100.

An inner wall of the skirt portion 200 is partially provided with screw threads 201 near to the top portion 100.

In the present embodiment, a lower periphery of the skirt portion 200 comprises four openings 202; each of the openings 202 has a rectangular shape; the four openings 202 are evenly spaced with respect to one another around the lower periphery of the skirt portion 200 along a circumferential direction; the openings 202 are positioned below the screw threads 201 and are separated from the screw threads 201 such that the screw threads 201 are not interrupted by the openings 202.

The present embodiment uses lesser materials by providing openings along the lower periphery of the bottle cap. In the present embodiment, a side wall of the bottle cap has the same thickness as the bottle cap in the prior art, therefore the general strength of the bottle cap will not be weakened.

Embodiment 2

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottle cap of embodiment 2 is different from the bottle cap of embodiment 1 in the following aspects: there are two openings 202 according to embodiment 2, and each opening has a semi-circular shape; the two openings 202 are symmetrically provided on the skirt portion 200; the screw threads 201 are positioned near to the lower periphery of the skirt portion 200; and the two openings 202 partially interrupt the screw threads 201. Other structures of the bottle cap of embodiment 2 are the same as the bottle cap of embodiment 1 and therefore will not be repeated herein.

Apart from reducing the use of materials, the bottle cap of embodiment 2 can also reduce friction at the screw threads of the bottle cap by partially interrupting the screw threads 201. Accordingly, lesser force is required to rotate and open the bottle cap, thereby allowing the bottle cap to be opened more easily.

Besides rectangular shape or semi-circular shape, the openings of the above embodiments can adopt other shapes such as triangular shape or semi-elliptical shape. The size and quantity of the openings can be determined according to practical situations, provided that the general strength of the bottle cap as well as the aesthetic appearance of the bottle cap are not affected. In general, each of the openings has a height which is one seventh to half of a height of the skirt portion, and a width which is one twentieth to one third of a circumference of the skirt portion. Besides, the inner wall of the skirt portion can be entirely provided with screw threads.

The embodiments described above are intended only for illustrating the present invention, and should not be considered limiting the scope of the present invention. Changes and modifications of the embodiments by any person skilled in this field of art are possible provided that they do not deviate from the essence and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bottle cap, comprising a top portion and a skirt portion; the skirt portion surrounds the top portion and extends downwardly from a circumference of the top portion; an inner wall of the skirt portion is partially provided with screw threads; wherein a lower periphery of the skirt portion comprises openings.
 2. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein the bottle cap has a circular structure.
 3. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein the openings are in rectangular shapes, semi-circular shapes or triangular shapes.
 4. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein there are two said openings symmetrically arranged with respect to each other.
 5. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein there are four said openings evenly spaced with respect to one another along a circumferential direction of the skirt portion.
 6. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein the screw threads are positioned near to the top portion.
 7. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein the screw threads are positioned near to the lower periphery of the skirt portion; the openings partially interrupt the screw threads.
 8. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein each of the openings has a height which is one seventh to half of a height of the skirt portion, and a width which is one twentieth to one third of a circumference of the skirt portion. 